Straight bar knitting machines

ABSTRACT

Control means for selectively selecting the loop transfer points in a straight bar fully fashioned knitting machine, said means comprising a series of selector elements arranged to be operated by at least one of a plurality of spade devices, said selector elements serving to move said transfer points from a normal operative position into an inoperative position. Said spade devices are formed to cause selection of said loop transfer points to perform loop transfer functions to effect garment shaping, vee neck, fancy lace, marking, doubling, pouching and cabling operations.

United States Patent Swanwick [151 3,657,905 51 Apr. 25, 1972 STRAIGHTBAR KNITTING MACHINES Barry Frederick Swanwick, Melton Mowbray, EnglandS. A. Monk (Sutton in Ashfield) Limited, Ashfield, Nottinghamshire,England Filed: May 22, 1970 Appl. No; 39,822

Inventor:

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 28, 1969 Great Britain..26,934/69 U.S. Cl ..66/89, 66/96 1m. Cl. ..D04b11/06 Field of Search..66/89, 95, 154, 96

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1898 Aldridge ..66/90 11/1892Clar'keetal. ..66/96 658,826 10/1900 Boessneck ..66/89 2,035,960 3/1936Heintz ..66/96 2,198,846 4/1940 Tesse ..66/96 3,398,554 8/1968 Start eta1 .66/96 X 3,503,226 3/1970 Woodcock et a1 ..66/96 3,562,777 2/1971Blood ..66/89 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbauml Att0rneyBaldwin, Wight &Brown 5 7 1 ABSTRACT Control means for selectively selecting; the looptransfer points in a straight bar fully fashioned knitting machine, saidmeans comprising a series of selector elements arranged to be operatedby at least one of a plurality of spade devices, said selector elementsserving to move said transfer points from a normal operative positioninto an inoperative position. Said spade devices are formed to causeselection of said loop transfer points to perform loop transferfunctions to effect garment shaping, vee neck, fancy lace, marking,doubling, pouching and cabling operations.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 25 m2 SHEET 1 BF 6 W /MW We 5r5% W7 warm PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 SHEET 3 OF 6 lllllliiill PATENTEDAPR 25m2 SHEET 5 OF 6 P'ATENTEU APR 2 5 I972 SHEET 8 BF 6 STRAIGHT BARKNITTING MACHINES This invention relates to straight bar knittingmachines having a fashioning machine supporting loop transfer pointswhich are adapted to perform loop transfer functions to effectgarmentshaping, vee neck, fancy lace, marking, doubling, pouching andcabling operations, and is concerned particularly with means forselectively controlling the operation of the loop transfer points.

All of the functions hereinbefore set out are identical in principle inthat the loop transfer points engage with the corresponding needles,either singly, or in groups, or en-bloc, or in a fixed pattern, or in aselected pattern, and pick up the fabric loops of the previously knittedrow of loops and transfer them sideways in either direction to theadjacent needle or by two, or three, or four needle pitches. Obviouslyand necessarily a loop can be transferred from a needle leaving thatneedle empty and thereby creating a hole in the garment or effectingnarrowing of the garment, or alternatively, loops can be transferred toa needle or needles which already contain a loop or loops.

All straight bar full fashioned knitting machines are provided with anarrowing machine which is capable of being adapted to carry out thevarious loop transfer functions hereinbefore set out. However, adifficulty exists in providing all of these functions, and theirassociated selection and control mechanisms, on the narrowing machineand within the confines of the width of the knitting head. Due to thelimited space available, it is necessary to retract certain machineelements when not inuse so that other elements have the necessary spacein which to operate. Retraction of the machine elements which are notrequired can be accomplished manually, in which case the machine mayhave to be stopped thus loosing production time, or alternatively,retraction can be effected automatically thus necessitating additionalmechanisms and controls whichare costly. These mechanisms also need tobe very reliable in that any breakdowns drastically reduce the output ofthe machine. Safety devices therefore have to be incorporated to preventbreakages due to any malfunction of the mechanisms and this is a furtherand difficult complication.

It is among the objects of the present invention to overcome orsubstantially reduce the aforementioned disadvantagesand to provide amachine incorporating a comprehensive selection and control systemoperatively associated with the loop transferpoints and capable ofcausing said transfer points to perform any of the functionshereinbefore set out.

In putting the invention into effect, the loop transfer points will beprovided, one to each needle in the needle bed, in wide trick beds eachextending over half of the length of the needle bed, and being mountedon the fashioning machine so as to be moved lengthwise of the needle bedin either direction the equivalent of one, or two, or three, or fourneedle pitches. Such an arrangement is well known per se and wasoriginally applied to Cottons Patent multi-head straight bar knittingmachines in which selection was made by means of overheadjacquard-operated dropper elements arranged to select the loop transferpoints in any desired array. In this form of selection, the transferpoints were normally in a raised inoperative position and the dropperelements were such that they engaged and moved downwards, relative tothe narrowing machine, the selected transfer points so that, when thenarrowing machine carried out its normal dipping and loop transferfunction only the selected points co-acted with their correspondingneedles.

This form of selection is complicated and takes up an excessive amountof space in the vicinity of the needle bed and it is therefore furtheramong the objects of the present invention, while adopting the knowngeneral principle of supporting and operating the loop transfer points,to provide improved selection and control means for the points.

According to the present invention, there is provided a straight barknitting machine, comprising a series of loop transfer points mounted onthe machines narrowing head to co-act with the knitting needles, meansfor moving the transfer points in two groups lengthwise of the needlebed to effect sideways transfer of knitted loops, and control means forselectively controlling the operation of the transfer points, whereinsaid control means are mounted independently of the narrowing head onthe frame of the :machine and comprise a series of selector elementsoperatively associated with the transfer points which elements arearranged and constructed to be acted upon by any one or more of aplurality of spade devices which are operable to position the selectorelements and, when the machine is in use, to cause the selected transferpoints to carry out a shaping, a vee neck, a fancy lace, a marking, adoubling, a pouching, or a cabling operation of, or in, the gannentbeing knitted.

Preferably, the loop transfer points are slidably mounted in trick bedsmounted on the narrowing head.

According to the invention furthermore, the selector elements are springloaded to retain them individually in one of two alternative positionsdependent upon the selection means, means also being provided to movethe selector elements into either of the said alternative positionsirrespective of the position dictated by the selection means.

According to the invention still further, the loop transfer elements areprovided normally to remain in an operative position and the selectormeans are arranged to act upon those points which are not required tooperate so that, on operation of the narrowing machine, the unrequiredpoints are moved into an inoperative position.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which,

FIG. 1 is an elevation of one knitting bay of a fully fashioned knittingmachine according to the invention and showing the narrowing machine,

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an elevation corresponding; to FIG. 1, and showing the looptransfer points selector mechanism,

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the control mechanism for operatingthe spade members used for vee neck, lace selection and markingselection operations,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the spade members used for thedoubling and fashioning operations,

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the mechanism for controlling the doubling andfashioning spade membens,

FIG. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a section, on an enlarged scale, showing the relativepositions of the narrowing head and the loop transfer points selectormechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is concerned with a standardtype rib/plain straight bar fully fashioned knitting machine having aset of frame needles 1 and a set of machine needles 2. FIGS. 1 to 4 ofthe drawings show one knitting bay of a multi-head machine and, sincethe construction of the machine is well known, only those parts of themachine necessary for a clear understanding of the invention areincluded in the drawings. It will also be appreciated that the shafts,etc., shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 extend into a control bay from which theyare actuated in well known manner.

In the drawings, certain parts of the machine supporting framework areshown and these are all indicated by the reference F. 1

As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, there is provided a narrowingmachine or head generally indicated at 3 which supports two sets of looptransfer elements 4 and 5 which are each provided to extend over halfthe width of the needle beds 1 and 2. In this respect, it will beappreciated that the number of loop transfer points corresponds to thenumber of needles in one bed.

The two sets of loop transfer points 4, 5 are each mounted forlengthwise movement in trick cut beds 6 which beds are supported in endbrackets 7 and are adapted to carry out the necessary controlledmovements to permit of knitted loops to be transferred sideways apredetermined number of needle pitches. For this purpose, the brackets 7are mounted on a shaft 8 and angular movement thereof about the shaft 8,and about a fixed shaft 80 via a link 8b, in order to effect a socalleddipping operation, is effected through a lever 9, a cam follower 10 anda cam 11 mounted on the main cam shaft 12 of the machine. Sidewaysmovement of the narrowing machine or head is effected by narrowing rods13 which are connected to the beds 6 and extend over the length of themachine. The rods 13 are controlled by fashioning screws arranged in thecontrol bay of the machine which screws are operable to effectlongitudinal traversing movement of the trick beds 6 the equivalent of 1four needle pitches according to the loop transfer function required.The fashion screws are racked in either direction by conventional rackand bluff mechanisms which are commanded by the machines main control asis commonly used in full fashioned straight bar knitting machines.

The loop transfer points 5 are movable individually in the grooves ofthe trick cut bed 6 between an operative and an inoperative positionand, for this purpose, each point is provided with two spaced notches 14and 15 which are adapted to be engaged by a spring 16 to hold the pointin either of its two positions. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, one of thepoints is in its operative position and the spring 16 is in engagementwith the notch 14. In its inoperative position the point would be movedvertically upwards so that the spring 16 would engage the notch 15. Thesprings 16 are held in position on the trick cut bed 6 by means of acommon retaining plate 17.

The loop transfer points 4, 5 further include, at the end remote fromthe loop-engaging end, an abutment face 18 and a hook or latch 19 thepurpose of which will hereinafter be described.

Pivotally mounted on the machine frame F adjacent to, but independentof, the narrowing machine or head 3, is a selection and controlmechanism which is generally indicated at 20. This mechanism comprises asingle series of selector elements 21 which correspond in number andposition to the two sets of transfer points 4, 5 and which are mountedfor angular movement about a shaft 22 supported at each end of theknitting bay in end frames 23. The end frames 23 are arranged to pivotabout a shaft 24 mounted in supports 25 fixed to the machine frameworkF. The frames 23, and thus also the selector elements 2], are mountedfor angular movement about the shaft 24, this movement being imparted bya cam 26 mounted on the main cam shaft 12 of the machine through a camfollower 27, a bellcrank lever 28, a link rod 29 and an arcuate link 30.

Positioning of the selector elements 21 on the shaft 22, which has alongitudinally extending flat which enables the elements to be removedand replaced, is by means of front and rear trick cut plates 31 and 32extending lengthwise of the fashioning head. Each selector element 21,which is formed with a head portion 33 and a tail portion 34, isangularly movable into first and second positions as hereinafterdefined, each of the elements being held in either of said positions bymeans of an over-center leaf spring 35. The leaf springs 35 are mountedin a common trick cut bar 36 which is pivotted on a shaft 37 on a fixedcentre and which is operable by a motion from the main cam shaft 12 ofthe machine to move the selector elements 21 en-bloc into either of saidfirst and second positions.

The head portion 33 of each element 21 is formed with a hook or latch 38adapted to co-act with the hook or latch 19 of its co-operating looptransfer point 5, and with two spaced projections 39 and 40 for thepurpose hereinafter described.

The loop transfer points 5 are normally held in an operative position,i.e., in a position shown in FIG. 9 where they would engage and transferloops from their co-acting needles if the narrowing machine 3 were to beoperated, and the selector elements 21 are normally held in their firstpositions shown in full lines in FIG. 9, i.e., where their hooks orlatches 38 are arranged to engage the hooks or latches 19 of thetransfer points 5, as compared with their second positions shown inchain dot lines in FIG. 9 where their hooks or latches are out ofalignment with the hooks or latches 19 of the transfer points.

In use, in order to effect a loop transfer function (i.e., garmentshaping, vee neck, fancy lace, marking, doubling, pouching or cabling)the loop transfer points 5 are all in their lower or operative positionand the hooks or latches 38 of all the selector elements 21 are in theirfirst position in which they are arranged to engage the hooks or latches19 of the transfer points.

According to the function which is to be carried out, one or more of aplurality of spade devices are provided to move the selector elements 21of the transfer points required for the particular function into theirsecond positions where they do not influence the transfer points.

The narrowing machine 3 is then operated to carry out its first dippingmotion with the result that, due to selective interengagement of theselector element hooks 38 with the hooks 19 of the transfer points 5required, the transfer points not required are moved upwardly in theirtrick beds 6 into an inoperative position where they are held with thesprings 16 engaging the notches 15.

During the said first dip the narrowing machine 3 pauses to enable theneedles to advance to the selected loop transfer points 5 and box.During this pause, the entire selector mechanism 20 is swung outwardsabout its pivot 24 thereby disengaging the previously engaged co-actinghooks or latches 19, 38 in order to leave space for the narrowingmachine 3 to continue its downward movement to take the loops off therelevant needles, and to allow the narrowing machine to carry out itssubsequent movements to complete the loop transfer function. It will beappreciated that withdrawal of the selector mechanism 20 is necessary toallow, during the loop transfer function, the trick beds 6 to movesideways to effect loop transfer without any possibility of lateralinterengagement taking place between the non-selected transfer points 5and their co-acting selector elements 21 which would result in damage tothe points and/or the elements.

The selector mechanism 20 remains clear of the narrowing machine 3 untilthe latter has completed its loop transfer function and is returned toits normal operative or standing position. During this return movement,the non-selected transfer points 5 which were previously moved intotheir inoperative positions, are returned to their normal and operativepositions by means of a positioning blade 41 which is pivotally mounted,via a lever 42, about a shaft 43 on the fashioning machine 3. Thepositioning blade 41 extends over the full length of the trick beds 6and is caused, at the appropriate moment, to swing downwards to engagethe abutment surfaces 18 on the transfer points 5 and to return them totheir normal and operative positions.

Subsequently, the selector mechanism 20 is swung back into its normalposition and the shaft 37 supporting the leaf springs 35 is turned toreturn those selector elements 21 which were previously moved into theirsecond positions back into their first positions.

The narrowing and the selection mechanisms 3 and 20 are then ready toeffect the next selected loop transfer function.

It will be understood that the mode of operation just described will beapplicable to each of the functions hereinafter described.

As indicated above, spade devices are provided selectively to move theselector elements 21 into their second positions, the spade devicesbeing provided in pairs, one device of each pair being arranged tooperate over one half of the needles in the needle bed and the otherdevice over the other half of the needles. The spade devices are in theform of flat plates which are varied in shape and length according tothe particular operation they are intended to perform.

For the purpose of knitting lace patterns, two spade devices 44 and 45which are, for example I inch long, are provided, these being attached,via clamping blocks 46, respectively to control rods 47 and 48. As canbe seen in FIG. 5, each spade device, for lacing purposes, is providedwith spaced prongs 440 which correspond to the selector elements 21 theyare to actuate in order to perform a particular lace pattern. In thisrespect, the spade devices 44, 45 are arranged to co-act with theprojections 39 formed on the selector elements 21. The control rods 47,48 extend over the length of the machine and into the control bay wherea control mechanism is provided to impart both longitudinal and angularmovement to the spade devices 44, 45.

The said control mechanism is shown in FIG. 5 in relation to spadedevice 44, it being understood that a similar mechanism is provided tocontrol the spade device 45. The mechanism comprises a triangular block49 fixed to the control rod 47 and adapted to engage a bifurcated sliderblock 50 which is slidable in a channel member 51 extending parallel tothe rod 47. In order to impart longitudinal movement to the spade device44, the slider block 50 is formed with a screw-threaded hole to co-actwith a threaded spindle 52. The spindle is rotated, by any convenientmeans, to cause longitudinal movement of the block 50, and thus also ofthe spade device 44, in either direction.

In order to impart angular movement to the spade device 44 to cause itto move selected selector elements into their second positions, anelongated gear 53 is secured to the operating rod 47 and meshes, withina bracket 54, with a toothed rack 55, the bracket 54 being fixed to apart of the machine framework F. The rack 55 has attached thereto, via apin 56 arranged in a slot 57, a link 58 which is connected to a leveroperated from a cam on, or controlled from, the main cam shaft 12 of themachine in the manner hereinbefore described so as to impart verticalmovement to the link 58 and thus angular movement to the spade device44. In this respect, it will be appreciated that the block 49 is sizedso that, despite the angular movement imparted thereto, it will alwaysremain in engagement with the slider block 50.

For the purpose of forming a vee neck in a garment piece two furtherspade devices 59 and 60, which are in the form of flat plates withoutthe prongs 44a, are provided these being mounted, via clamping blocks61, respectively on operating rods 62 and 63. The spade devices 59, 60in this case co-act with the projections 40 of the selector elements 21.Longitudinal and angular movement is imparted to the spade devices 59and 60 in the manner described with reference to the spade devices 44and 45.

In order to effect a marking operation, further spade devices 64 and 65,which are formed with a single prong 44a, are provided, these beingmounted, via clamping blocks 66, respectively on control rods 67 and 68.The spade devices 64, 65 in this case co-act with the tail portions 34of the selector elements 21. Here again, longitudinal and angularmovement is imparted to i the spade devices 64, 65 in the mannerdescribed with reference to the spade devices 44 and 45.

For the purpose of effecting doubling, or of shaping of the selvedges ofa garment piece, two further spade devices 69 and 70 are provided. Thesedevices are in the form of flat plates without prongs 44a and are eachof a length to extend over half the width of the needle beds. As can beseen more particularly in FIG. 6, the spade devices 69, 70 are slidablymounted in a bifurcated bracket 71 which is fixed to and moves with theend frames 23 of the selector mechanism 20. Each spade device 69, 70 hasattached to its leading edge a toothed rack 72 the main body of which isfreely slidable over the top surface of the bracket 71. Straddling therack 72 are two circular plates 73 which are interconnected by a toothedgear 74 which meshes with the rack 72. The gears 74, together with theplates 73, of the spade devices 69, 70 are fixed respectively to controlrods 75 and 76. In this respect, although each spade device isillustrated as being acted upon by one mechanism 72, 73, 74 it isenvisaged that two such mechanisms will be provided for each spadedevice.

It will be appreciated that, in order to carry out a doubling or afashioning operation, lengthwise movement of the spade devices 69, 70will be effected by moving the control rods 75, 76 in an endwisedirection, and forward movement to engage the tail portions 34 of theselected selector elements 21 will be effected by imparting angularmovement to the control rods 75, 76

The control rods 75, 76 extend the full length of the machine and intothe control bay where a mechanism is provided to impart lengthwise andangular movement thereto. In this respect, since the mechanisms in eachcase are identical, only one mechanism will be described with referenceto the spade device 69 and its co-acting control rod 75.

The mechanism, which is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, comprises a partiallycut elongated gear 77 which is fixed to the control rod 75. The gear 77is also formed, at a position radially opposite the gear teeth, with aseries of spaced webs 78. In order to impart angular motion to the rod75, and thus forward motion of the spade device 69, the gear 77 ismounted in a bracket 79 secured to a fixed part of the machine where itmeshes with a toothed rack 80. A link 81 is coupled, via a pin 82arranged in a slot 83, to the rack 80, the link 81 being connected to alever operated from a cam on, or controlled from, the main cam shaft 12of the machine to effect movement of the rack and thus angular movementof the rod 75.

In order to impart lengthwise movement to the control rod 75, and thusalso to the spade device 69, there is provided a slide member 84 mountedin fixed guides 85. The slide member 84 is formed with a slot 86 whichreceives a link 87 which is pivotally connected to the member 84 bymeans of a drive pin 88. The link 87 imparts oscillatory movement to theslide member 84 by the action of a cam operated linkage systemoperatively associated with the main cam shaft 12 of the machine.Pivotally mounted on the slide member 84 are two bellcrank levers 89 and90 which are identical except that they face in opposite directions. Thelevers 89, 90 are adapted to engage the webs 78 of the gear 77 and arebiassed in this respect by means of tension springs 91 and 92. Bothlevers are normally held in an inoperative position (as shown by lever89) by control levers (not shown) which operate through cables 93 and94.

In order intermittently to move the control rod 75, and thus also thespade device 69, in one direction either cable 93 or 94 is released sothat its corresponding lever89 or 90 becomes operative and moves into aposition where it enters one of the spaces between the webs 78. In thisposition, reciprocatory movement of the slide member 84, the stroke ofwhich is greater than one pitch of the webs 78 and less than two pitchesof the webs 78, is effective to move the control rod 75 in stepscorresponding to one pitch of the webs 78.

When it is required to effect a doubling operation, for example toreduce the coursewise width of a rib welts last course to that of thebody fabrics first course, the spade devices 69, 70 are placed in theiroutermost positions, i.e., in positions where their leading or innermostends overlap a small number of selector elements 21. In this position,the spade devices are racked forward to move said small number ofselector elements 21 into their second positions to ensure that thecorresponding loop transfer elements 5 remain in their operativepositions. The narrowing head 3 is then caused to operate to moveinwards the loops from the selected needles one needle pitch so that adoubled loop is provided at say one-half inch from each selvedge of thefabric.

The spade devices 69, 70 are then moved inwards say a further one-halfinch. This will cause further one-half inch width of transfer elementsto become operative so that, on further operation of the narrowing head3, all the loops previously transferred, plus the new loops, will betransferred inwardly to provide a doubled loop 1 inch from each selvedgeof the fabric. This process is repeated at say i-inch intervals untilall the transfer points 5 are operative with the result that a doubledloop is provided at intervals of one-half inch over the width of thegarment piece. I

This process simulates a multi-dip system of doubling where the looptransfer elements themselves are bodily moved outwards so that theirinner few points align with the outermost needles for commencing thedoubling operation, and are then stepped inwards in equal increments toeffect a series of doublings over the width of the fabric.

In order to carry out a garment selvedge shaping operation, i.e.,narrowing, the spade devices 69, 70 are arranged with their inner endsoverlapping the garment selvedges by say 1 inch, this relationship beingmaintained by moving the spade devices in unison with the yarn carriertraverse and/or the knitting width control members. In this position, byeffecting the normal dipping operations of the narrowing head 3 usingthe selected loop transfer points 5, a narrowing operation is carriedout in the manner well known in fully fashioned straight bar knittingmachines.

It will be understood that the selection and timing of the variousfunctions and operations is effected by the cams on the main camshaft 12of the machine, these cams being selected for operation at theappropriate time in the usual manner by shogging of the camshaft into asecondary position. In this position, the knitting operation is haltedand normal fashioning and other loop transfer motions are carried out bythe narrowing machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the presentinvention provides a positive transfer point selection system in that,unlike most other selection systems, the control means select thoseelements which are required to be operative and not those which arerequired to be inoperative.

What we claim is:

l. A straight bar fully fashioned knitting machine comprising at leastone needle bed, a series of knitting needles in said needle bed, afashioning mechanism mounted relative to said knitting needles, a seriesof loop transfer points slidable between a normal and operative positionand an inoperative position in tricks mounted on said fashioningmechanism to co-act with said knitting needles and to perform looptransfer functions, spring means for retaining said loop transfer pointsin either of said positions, means for moving said loop transfer pointsin two groups lengthwise of said needle bed to effect sideways transferof knitted loops, a positioning blade common to all of said looptransfer points which is operative to return any of said points movedduring a loop transfer operation into their normal and operativepositions, and selection control means for individually and randomlyselecting said loop transfer points to perform the desired loop transferoperation, said selection control means being mounted independently ofsaid fashioning mechanism and comprising support means which areangularly movable relative to said loop transfer points, a series ofselector elements mounted on said support means for angular movementindividually between operative and inoperative positions, said selectorelements each having means for engaging co-acting means on acorresponding one of said loop transfer points to move saidcorresponding point into an inoperative position, a plurality ofprojections on said selector elements and a plurality of spade deviceswhich are operable selectively to act on said projections and to move atleast one of said selector elements into an operative position so that,in use, only those loop transfer points which correspond to saidselector elements which remain in an inoperative position are used tocarry out a loop transfer function. I

2. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said spade devicesare provided in pairs, with each spade device of each of said pairs ofspade devices being arranged to operate over half of the width of saidneedle bed.

3. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 2, in which each of saidselector elements comprises a head portion and a tail portion, said headportion having a hook arranged to engage a correspondingly shaped hookon its co-acting loop transfer point, and first and second projectionsarranged to co-act with said first and second pairs of said spadedevices, and said tail portion having an elongated projection arrangedto co-act with third and fourth pairs of said spade devices.

4. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 3, including overcenter springmeans for retaining said selector elements individually in theiroperative and inoperative positions, and means for causing all of saidselector elements to be positioned in one or another of their twopositions.

5. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 4, in which said first pair ofspade devices are operable to effect selection of said loop transferpoints to produce a vee neck formation in a garment piece, each spadedevice of said pair of spade devices comprising a flat plate attached toa control rod, said control rod having operatively associated therewithcontrol mechanism means for imparting both lengthwise and angular motionto said control rod and therethrough to its co-operating spade device.

6. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 4, in which said second pairof spade devices are operable to effect selection of said loop transferpoints to produce a lace pattern in a garment piece, each spade deviceof said second pair of spade devices comprising a flat plate formed withprojecting prongs corresponding to the ones of said selector elements itis required to select, said plate being attached to a control rod havingoperatively associated therewith control mechanism means for impartingboth lengthwise and angular motion to said control rod and therethroughto its co-operating spade device.

7. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 4, in which said third pair ofspade devices are operable to effect selection of said loop transferpoints to produce markings in a garment piece, each spade device of saidthird pair of said spade devices comprising a flat plate formed with asingle prong to actuate a single one of said selector elements, saidplate being attached to a control rod having operatively associatedtherewith control mechanism means for imparting both lengthwise andangular motion to said control rod and therethrough to its cooperatingspade device.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 4, in which said fourth pair of spadedevices are operable to effect selection of said loop transfer points toproduce doublings in a garment piece and to effect fashioning of agarment piece, each spade device of said fourth pair of spade devicescomprising a flat plate extending over half the width of said needle bedof the machine, said plate being slidable in a bifurcated bracketextending over the full width of said selection control means and beingoperatively coupled to a control rod which is connected to controlmechanism means for imparting lengthwise and angular movement thereto.

9. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 8, in which a toothed rack isfixed to the leading edge of each spade device of said fourth pair ofspade devices and is straddled by a pair of circular plates fixed tosaid control rod, said rack being slidable over the top surface of saidbifurcated bracket and being in mesh with a toothed gear fixed to saidcontrol rod, whereby lengthwise movement of said control rod will, viasaid circular plates, impart lengthwise movement to the respective spadedevice of said fourth spade devices, and angular movement of saidcontrol rod will, via said toothed rack, impart transverse movement tothe respective spade device towards and away from the tail portion ofsaid selector elements.

10. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 8, in which said controlmechanism means for imparting movement to said control rod of each spadedevice comprises a partially cut elongated gear fixed to said controlrod and having a limited number of gear teeth, said gear being formed ata position diametrically opposite said gear teeth with spaced webs,means for imparting angular motion to said gear, and other means forimparting lengthwise step-by-step motion to said gear.

11. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 10, in which said means forimparting angular motion to said gear comprise a toothed rack in meshwith the gear, said knitting machine having a main cam control shaft, alinkage system coupling said rack to a cam on said main cam controlshaft whereby on rotation of said cam said rack will impart angularturning movement to said gear.

12. A knitting machine as claimed in claim 10, in which said means forimparting lengthwise movement to said gear comprises a reciprocatingslide member having mounted thereon a pair of bellcrank levers forselectively engaging the webs of said gear so that said gear, and saidcontrol rod will be selectively moved in either direction in incrementscorresponding to the contour of said webs.

1. A straight bar fully fashioned knitting machine comprising at leastone nEedle bed, a series of knitting needles in said needle bed, afashioning mechanism mounted relative to said knitting needles, a seriesof loop transfer points slidable between a normal and operative positionand an inoperative position in tricks mounted on said fashioningmechanism to co-act with said knitting needles and to perform looptransfer functions, spring means for retaining said loop transfer pointsin either of said positions, means for moving said loop transfer pointsin two groups lengthwise of said needle bed to effect sideways transferof knitted loops, a positioning blade common to all of said looptransfer points which is operative to return any of said points movedduring a loop transfer operation into their normal and operativepositions, and selection control means for individually and randomlyselecting said loop transfer points to perform the desired loop transferoperation, said selection control means being mounted independently ofsaid fashioning mechanism and comprising support means which areangularly movable relative to said loop transfer points, a series ofselector elements mounted on said support means for angular movementindividually between operative and inoperative positions, said selectorelements each having means for engaging co-acting means on acorresponding one of said loop transfer points to move saidcorresponding point into an inoperative position, a plurality ofprojections on said selector elements and a plurality of spade deviceswhich are operable selectively to act on said projections and to move atleast one of said selector elements into an operative position so that,in use, only those loop transfer points which correspond to saidselector elements which remain in an inoperative position are used tocarry out a loop transfer function.
 2. A knitting machine as claimed inclaim 1, in which said spade devices are provided in pairs, with eachspade device of each of said pairs of spade devices being arranged tooperate over half of the width of said needle bed.
 3. A knitting machineas claimed in claim 2, in which each of said selector elements comprisesa head portion and a tail portion, said head portion having a hookarranged to engage a correspondingly shaped hook on its co-acting looptransfer point, and first and second projections arranged to co-act withsaid first and second pairs of said spade devices, and said tail portionhaving an elongated projection arranged to co-act with third and fourthpairs of said spade devices.
 4. A knitting machine as claimed in claim3, including over-center spring means for retaining said selectorelements individually in their operative and inoperative positions, andmeans for causing all of said selector elements to be positioned in oneor another of their two positions.
 5. A knitting machine as claimed inclaim 4, in which said first pair of spade devices are operable toeffect selection of said loop transfer points to produce a vee neckformation in a garment piece, each spade device of said pair of spadedevices comprising a flat plate attached to a control rod, said controlrod having operatively associated therewith control mechanism means forimparting both lengthwise and angular motion to said control rod andtherethrough to its co-operating spade device.
 6. A knitting machine asclaimed in claim 4, in which said second pair of spade devices areoperable to effect selection of said loop transfer points to produce alace pattern in a garment piece, each spade device of said second pairof spade devices comprising a flat plate formed with projecting prongscorresponding to the ones of said selector elements it is required toselect, said plate being attached to a control rod having operativelyassociated therewith control mechanism means for imparting bothlengthwise and angular motion to said control rod and therethrough toits co-operating spade device.
 7. A knitting machine as claimed in claim4, in which said third pair of spade devices are operable to effecTselection of said loop transfer points to produce markings in a garmentpiece, each spade device of said third pair of said spade devicescomprising a flat plate formed with a single prong to actuate a singleone of said selector elements, said plate being attached to a controlrod having operatively associated therewith control mechanism means forimparting both lengthwise and angular motion to said control rod andtherethrough to its cooperating spade device.
 8. A machine as claimed inclaim 4, in which said fourth pair of spade devices are operable toeffect selection of said loop transfer points to produce doublings in agarment piece and to effect fashioning of a garment piece, each spadedevice of said fourth pair of spade devices comprising a flat plateextending over half the width of said needle bed of the machine, saidplate being slidable in a bifurcated bracket extending over the fullwidth of said selection control means and being operatively coupled to acontrol rod which is connected to control mechanism means for impartinglengthwise and angular movement thereto.
 9. A knitting machine asclaimed in claim 8, in which a toothed rack is fixed to the leading edgeof each spade device of said fourth pair of spade devices and isstraddled by a pair of circular plates fixed to said control rod, saidrack being slidable over the top surface of said bifurcated bracket andbeing in mesh with a toothed gear fixed to said control rod, wherebylengthwise movement of said control rod will, via said circular plates,impart lengthwise movement to the respective spade device of said fourthspade devices, and angular movement of said control rod will, via saidtoothed rack, impart transverse movement to the respective spade devicetowards and away from the tail portion of said selector elements.
 10. Aknitting machine as claimed in claim 8, in which said control mechanismmeans for imparting movement to said control rod of each spade devicecomprises a partially cut elongated gear fixed to said control rod andhaving a limited number of gear teeth, said gear being formed at aposition diametrically opposite said gear teeth with spaced webs, meansfor imparting angular motion to said gear, and other means for impartinglengthwise step-by-step motion to said gear.
 11. A knitting machine asclaimed in claim 10, in which said means for imparting angular motion tosaid gear comprise a toothed rack in mesh with the gear, said knittingmachine having a main cam control shaft, a linkage system coupling saidrack to a cam on said main cam control shaft whereby on rotation of saidcam said rack will impart angular turning movement to said gear.
 12. Aknitting machine as claimed in claim 10, in which said means forimparting lengthwise movement to said gear comprises a reciprocatingslide member having mounted thereon a pair of bellcrank levers forselectively engaging the webs of said gear so that said gear, and saidcontrol rod will be selectively moved in either direction in incrementscorresponding to the contour of said webs.